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Subject: [LDR] Re: LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-D Digest V03 #293
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 14:11:29 EST
Seems to me sometime back there was a discussion about whether Capt. John
Smith went to the Eastern Shore of VA. Quoting from a book copywrited in 1929
written by Paul Wilstach, "Tidewater Virginia", " pages 52 and 53 ------"as soon
as corn was planted" the next spring, 1608, he set out on what was the first
thorough exploration of the bay and Tidewater. Smith was accompanied by
fourteen men, among them "Walter Russell, Doctor of Physicke," and the trip was
made in "an open Barge neare three tuns burthen."
Dropping down to Cape Henry they "crossed the Bay to the Eastern Shore,
and fell with the Isles called Smith's Isles, after our Captaines name."
Rounding Cape Charles, they found "Accomack, the habitation of their Werowance,
where we were kindly treated. This king was the comeliest, proper, civill
Salvage we incountred. His Country is a pleasant fertile clay soyle, small creekes;
good Harbours for small Barks, but not for Ships."
-----------Cruising up the coast of the Eastern Shore they searched every
inlet for harbors and habitations. Seeing many islands ahead they approached
but were driven off by a storm. These they called Russell's Isles, after
their physician no doubt, but now they are known as Watt and Tangier Islands.
Jeanne Scott
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